Tara Reade, known for alleging sexual assault by President Joe Biden during his Senate tenure in the early 1990s, has reportedly relocated to Russia, citing safety concerns in the United States.

Reade, formerly a staff member in Biden's Senate office, was spotted in Moscow this week. In an interview with the Russian media outlet Sputnik News, she confirmed her move to Russia, according to the New York Post.

"I feel surrounded by protection and safety," Reade told Sputnik News. Expressing her gratitude towards Maria Butina and others who she felt had ensured her safety during a time of personal uncertainty, she added, "It's been very difficult to know if I'm safe or not."

Reade's allegations against then-presidential candidate Biden in 2020 caught national attention, even though Biden strongly denied the claims and no other former Senate staff members came forward to support her accusations. Despite this, the 59-year-old Reade has maintained her position.

A surprise element of her appearance in Moscow was her company - Maria Butina, a convicted Russian spy. Butina, found guilty of conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent, was incarcerated in a U.S. prison for 18 months in 2019. She now holds a position in the Russian parliament, representing President Vladimir Putin's party.

Reade revealed to Sputnik News that alleged death threats linked to her claims against Biden drove her to leave the U.S. for Russia. Describing her arrival in Moscow, she stated, "For the first time in a very long time I felt safe, and I felt heard, and I felt respected." According to Reade, she hasn't experienced these feelings in her home country.

In what appears to be a long-term commitment, Reade applied for Russian citizenship this week. Butina expressed her willingness to facilitate Reade's application, intending to appeal directly to Putin to expedite the process. "The Kremlin is accommodating," Reade commented.

Throughout the interview, Reade delivered criticism of Washington and defended Moscow. She argued that the portrayal of Russia as an enemy was "an illusion propagated by a few Washington elites who are determined to cause problems."